Method and means for reproducing written subject matter including drug prescription data



Dec. 7, 1965 v R. A. GOSSELIN 3,222,085

METHOD AND MEANS FOR REPRQDUCING WRITTEN SUBJECT MATTER INCLUDING DRUG PRESCRIPTION DATA 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 6, 1963 Dec. 7, 1965 R. A. GOSSELIN METHOD AND MEANS FOR REPRODUCING WRITTEN SUBJECT MATTER INCLUDING DRUG PRESCRIPTION DATA 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 6, 1963 United States Patent METHOD AND MEANS FOR REPRGDUCING WRITTEN SUBJECT MATTER INCLUDING DRUG PRESCRIPTION DATA Raymond A. Gosselin, Wellesley, Mass assignor to R. A.

Gosselin & Company, Inc., Dedham, Mass., at corporation of Massachusetts Filed Mar. 6, 1963, Ser. No. 263,332 1 Claim. (Cl. 28223) This invention relates to reproduction of written material, reference being had especially to reproduction of subject matter in handwritten doctors prescriptions. In particular, the invention is concerned with an improved method of writing a doctors prescription and an improved prescription tablet whereby there may be produced by means of a single writing operation a plurality of separable prescription sheets, each of which differs from other sheets in one or more essential characteristics.

In prescribing an ethical drug for a patient as commonly carried out by a doctor, certain statutory requirements must be observed. Ethical drugs are required to be prescribed in writing identified by the patients name and signed by the doctor. In the case of narcotics the doctors registration number must be inserted. This original prescription bearing the doctors signature and registration number, if used, must be presented by the patient to a registered druggist. The druggist fills the prescription and is then required by law to retain the original signed prescription in his files for a period of time such as two years or longer.

The present invention stems from a recognition of the fact that in the development and use of new ethical drugs exceedingly valuable data, both from the standpoint of the doctor and the drug manufacturer, may be compiled from periodic examination of various classes and amounts of drugs prescribed, with such information being thereafter analyzed utilizing modern data machines and techniques. At the present time limited prescription data can be obtained by copying drug and dosage information directly from prescription sheets while these sheets are held in the custody of the druggist. However, processing data thus obtained fails to provide important areas of information greatly desired by both doctors and drug manufacturing companies.

I am aware that it has been proposed to make additional copies of prescriptions for data processing purposes utilizing carbon sheets or other reproducing means. However, many doctors are too busy to use carbon paper and difficulty arises since the doctors signature and registration number must not be reproduced on copies which are not retained by the druggist. In addition, the name of the patient is in many cases regarded as confidential information and the doctor may not want this information reproduced except for copies which he retains in his own files.

Thus it will be evident that ideally there should be reproduced a doctors record copy which identifies the patient but does not bear the doctors signature or registration number. There should also be reproduced a data processing copy which contains only the drug and dosage so that it may be placed in the hands of a data processing organization and which is independently identifiable with the prescribing doctor.

It is an object of the invention therefore to improve means and methods of reproducing written material and in particular handwritten doctors prescriptions.

Still another object is to provide a method of writing a doctors prescription in which a plurality of copies are simultaneously produced, each of which differ in one or more essential characteristics.

3,222,086 Patented Dec. 7, 1965 Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved multi-sheet prescription tablet having novel means for reproducing written subject matter.

With these general objectives in mind, I have conceived of a method and means for reproducing written subject matter whereby a single writing operation on a prescription tablet produces a plurality of separable prescription sheets, each of which differs from other sheets in the specific information which is reproduced. In carrying out this improved method of the invention, I employ an improved prescription tablet in one preferred form of which a plurality of multi-sheet units are superimposed one upon another and adhesively secured together.

An important feature of the invention is the combination with each of the sheets of chemical coatings or impregnating materials which are pressure sensitive. In addition, the coated surfaces at some points are formed with ink-bearing areas which serve to define writable surfaces and surfaces having random printed designs resulting in non-writable surfaces whereby there may be realized predetermined reproduction of written subject matter in a carefully restricted manner.

Still another important feature of the invention is the combination of novel pressure control means in a tablet of multi-sheet units superimposed one above another. Each unit includes a plurality of pressure sensitive sheets, the lowermost sheet of which is designed to absorb substantial amounts of writing pressure so as to function as a pressure arresting member. By means of this pressure arresting member, writing pressure required to produce desired reproduction on two of the sheets may be controlled and transcription of data onto the next underlying multi-sheet unit is prevented.

Still another feature of the invention is the formation of the pressure arresting sheet with a bottom tab portion which serves as a means of separating units from one another and which also provides a narrow marginal surface for receiving identifying indicia such as code numbers and the like.

The nature of the invention and its other objects and novel features will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating the multiform unit prescription tablet of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view illustrating a single multi-form prescription sheet unit removed from the tablet;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view further illustrating a multi-form unit removed from a pad and having corner portions of the two uppermost sheets turned back upon themselves; and

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged exploded view showing three constituent sheets of a prescription unit separatedfrom one another and presenting at the two lowermost sheets, portions of data selectively reproduced from the top sheet by means of a single writing operation in accordance with the method of the invention.

The invention method is, in general, concerned with providing prescription data in a form in which such data may be communicated to an outside data processing organization. In one preferred mode of communication, it is contemplated that a copy of drug and dosage data identifiable with a prescribing doctor is to be placed in a filing enclosure and periodically sent by the doctor or his secretary by mail to the processing organization. The processing organization then records and evaluates the information by data processing machines and specifically 31 devised processing techniques. Results of this data processing are from time to time. then transmitted to both the contributing doctors and to drug manufacturers Who have no other means of learning important facts about type and usage of many ethical drugs.

The method of the invention provides a data processing copy which is suitable for use by a data processing organization and at the same time there is'produced a doctors record copy and patients original copy.

The patients copy prepared in accordance with the invention is conventional. This copy bears the doctors signature and his registration number, as well as his name, and when filled in with a prescription and a patients name is handed by the patient to a druggist who retains the copy in his custody in the usual manner.

The doctors record copy of the invention is arranged to bear the name of the patient as written by the doctor, together with related information such as date, age of patient, address, etc., as well as the prescribed drug. This copy does not, however, bear the doctors signature or his registration number.

The data processing copy of the invention bears the drug and dosage data, but does not have either the doctors signature or registration number nor the patients name. The data processing copy does, however, have tab and code number means for identifying the subject matter With the name of the prescribing doctor.

Considering the invention in more detail, I employ a specially devised prescription tablet P which comprises a plurality of pressure sensitive multi-sheet units superimposed one upon another and preferably secured together by adhesive along one side thereof as indicated by the numeral 2.-

The prescription tablet P is designed for use by a doctor who, when making out a prescription, applies writing pressure on the top sheet of the uppermost unit. In accordance with the invention Writing pressure is transmitted to a second and third sheet of the unit to selectively transcribe data on these sheets and simultaneously a substantial amount of pressure is absorbed by a specially devised thickness of material utilized in the third sheet thereby to prevent transcription of data onto the next underlying multi-sheet unit.

In the tablet arrangement shown in the drawings, numeral 4 denotes a patients copy sheet, numeral 6 denotes a doctors record copy sheet, and numeral 8 indicates a pressure arresting data copy sheet. These three sheets constitute a prescription unit which may be detached from the tablet and then separated.

The three prescription sheets 4, 6 and 8 are, in one preferred form, composed of paper having chemical coating or impregnating means applied thereto in order to render the sheets pressure sensitive. As an example of one paper of this class there may be cited NCR paper which is manufactured and sold by the National Cash Register Company.

As noted in FIGURES 1-3, the chemically coated sheets are combined in specific relationship to one another so as to provide for .one chemically coated surface 10 occurring at the underside of the patients copy 4. The doctors record copy is provided at the upper side thereof with a chemically coated surface 12. This surface 12, when held in contact with the surface 10, and subjected to pressure applied at the upper side of sheet 4, is adapted to form written subject matter.

The doctors record copy at the underside thereof, is further formed with a second chemically coated surface 14. Also, the pressure arresting data copy 8, at its upper side, presents a chemically coated surface 16. This surface likewise cooperates with the surface 14 of sheet 6 to reproduce subject matter when writing pressure is applied at the upper side of the copy 4.

Difficulty has been encountered in thus utilizing writing pressure in conjunction with pressure sensitive chemically coated sheets of the class noted. It is found that normal writing pressure varies and tends to cause a writethrough, i.e., a transcription of data onto the next underlying multi-sheet unit in a highly objectionable manner. I have discovered that it is possible to form the data processing sheet 8 in such a way as to absorb substantial amounts of writing pressure particularly as applied through two immediately overlying sheets so that writethrough is controlled. Thus the data sheet can be made to function as a pressure arresting member which, when made in a particular manner, prevents transcription of written data onto the immediately underlying unit below this data sheet.

Arresting of pressure in this Way may, I find, be accomplished by controlling the specifications of the material from which the data sheet is formed, reference being had to the thickness or weight of the paper, its fibre content and also its density and calender characteristics.

For example, in the prescription unit comprised by the sheets 4, 6 and 8, it will be understood that the sheets 4 and 6 are required to be of a nearly conventional thickness and quality, corresponding to paper ordinarily employed in doctors prescription and for the sheet 4, I may use a paper of a thickness of .002 or .003 inch, having a weight of 62 pounds per thousand sheets in a sheet size of 22 /2 x 34 /2 inches.

Similarly, the sheet 6 may be of a thickness of .003 to .004 inch, having a Weight of pounds per thousand sheets in the size noted above. It is pointed out that sheets of these thicknesses noted have been found to be satisfactory for transmitting normal writing pressures so that the chemical coatings will be activated and written subject matter thereby reproduced sufficiently clearly on the upper sides of sheets 6 and 8.

Control of writing pressure transmitted through the sheets 4 and 6 may, I find, be realized in the pressure arresting member 8 by forming this member of a sulphate or kraft fibre paper of the type commonly referred to as Manila tag manufactured and sold by the National Cash Register Company, and having a thickness of approximately .010 inch and a weight of 252 pounds per thousand sheets in a sheet size of 22 /2 x 34 /2 inches. The paper is, in addition, a hard sized paper of high calender. In some instances the thickness of the sheet 8 may be decreased to as low as .008 inch depending on changes in the top sheets. I have further found that although it is possible to use thicker papers, this is to a very large extent impractical since increasing the weight of the sheet 8 quickly increases the cost of shipping the data records to a point where use of a data sheet is rendered unfeasible.

In addition to utilizing chemically treated papers and controlling the thicknesses and quality of the paper in relation to one another, I further provide selectively applied ink-bearing surfaces on each of the sheets 6 and 8 in order to define writable areas and non-writable areas. Thus on sheet 6, I provide ink-bearing random printed designs resulting in a non-writable surface 12a which is arranged to occur so as to prevent reproduction of the doctors signature and registration number. Similarly, on sheet 8, I provide ink-bearing random printed designs resulting in non-writable surfaces 16a and 16b located so as to prevent reproduction of the doctors signature and registration number and also the doctors name and address, as well as the name and address of the patient. The ink-bearing surfaces 12a, 16a and 1612 may, for example, consist of a multiplicity of closely compacted characters which are applied by some suitable printing process and which are arranged to completely cover the areas where applied so that it becomes impossible to reproduce data by pressure sensitive means on this inked area in a legible form.

The prescription tablets P of the invention with the arrangement of parts described above, are preferably produced from large size sheets of, for example, the earlier noted size of 22 /2 x 34 /2 inches. These sheets in the several different chemically coated types noted, are in accordance with the invention first cut into strips whose Width corresponds to roughly one dimension of the prescription pad or tablet P. Two of the strips are then separately passed through a printing apparatus such as, for example, a letter press printing press. The printed strips of paper are then sized so as to provide an intermediate sheet whose width corresponds to the top sheet and a bottom sheet of a slightly larger dimensional width. Thereafter, the sheets are assembled with respective chemical coatings occurring in the order earlier disclosed and the superimposed strips of paper are then covered with adhesive along one edge. Thereafter, the strips are cut to provide four prescription tablets occurring in a prescription size of approximately 4 x 6 inches.

In using the tablets P a doctor writes the name of a patient, his address, age, and the date on the sheet 4. He enters drug and dosage data in the body portion of the sheet 4 and thereafter he writes in his registration number and signs his name at the bottom of the sheet 4.

Writing pressure is thus selectively applied to the sheets 6 and 8 and causes the surfaces 10 and 12 of sheets 4 and 6 to cooperate and form on the surface 12 a reproduction of the patients name, address, age, and also the drug and dosage prescribed. However, the writing pressure does not activate the chemical surfaces sufficiently to provide a legible reproduction of the doctors signature and registration number since this is caused to occur along the inkbearing non-writable surface 12a and any material which is reproduced by chemical action is of an illegible nature.

Simultaneously with the transcribing of data onto sheet 6, there occurs a further transcribing of data onto sheet 8 with there being reproduced the drug and dosage, as well as the date of the prescription and the age of the patient. In this case the ink-bearing random printed designs resulting in a non-writable surface 16b prevents any reproduction of the doctors signature or registration number and likewise the doctors name and address, as well as the name and address of the patient are prevented from being reproduced.

Simultaneously with application of writing pressure to the sheets 6 and 8 from the sheet 4, a control of pressure is realized in the pressure arresting data sheet 8 in the manner already described with the result that writing pressure is prevented from acting through the three sheets 4, 6 and 8, and the next sheet of an underlying unit, to prevent transcription of data onto the underlying multi-form unit.

When the prescription has been completed by the doctor, he grasps the tab portion 8a and lifts this member upwardly, together with sheets 4 and 6, detaching the entire unit from the tablet. The patients copy 4 is then handed to the patient, the doctors record copy 6 is filed in the doctors office and the data processing copy 8 is placed in an enclosure body for forwarding in due course to a data processing organization. The tab portion 8a of the sheet 8 provides a surface on which may be printed a code number which identifies the prescription with a doctor who writes the prescription and which may also furnish additional information regarding the doctor and the drug prescribed.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that I have disclosed a novel method and means for writing prescriptions and I have devised a unique prescription tablet which provides for a highly selective writing of prescription data and which enables a doctor to quickly and conveniently make available a data source from which valuable and necessary information can be derived.

While I have shown preferred forms of the invention, it will be understood that various other modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claim and in this connection it may be desired to provide a greater or lesser number of copies suitably altering the paper specification and arrangement of non-writable surfaces and it may also be desired to reproduce other subject matter than that comprised by a doctors prescription.

I claim:

An improved prescription tablet comprising a plurality of multi-form units superimposed one upon another and adhesively secured together along one side thereof, each of said units comprising a patients prescription copy, an underlying doctors record copy and a bottom data processing pressure arresting copy, adjacent surfaces of each of said sheets bearing chemical coating means capable of reproducing on the upper surface of said underlying doctors copy and said bottom data processing pressure arresting copy written characters when the characters are Written with pressure on the outer surface of said patients prescription copy, said patients prescription copy having printed indicia adjacent the upper portion thereof for insorting the patients name and other pertinent data relating to the patient, a blank space in the central portion thereof for writing the patients prescription and printed indicia adjacent the bottom thereof for receiving the doctors signature, said doctors copy having printed indicia thereon adjacent the upper portion thereof corresponding to the printed indicia adjacent the upper portion of the patients prescription copy and a blank space in the central portion thereof so that the patients name and other pertinent data relating to the patient and the written prescription will appear on the doctors copy, said doctors copy having an ink bearing surface area composed of random printed designs underlying the printed indicia on the patients prescription copy adjacent the bottom thereof so that the doctors signature made on the patients prescription copy will not be reproduced thereon, said bottom data processing pressure arresting copy having ink bearing surface areas composed of random printed designs adjacent the top and bottom thereof and a blank space in the central portion thereof, said ink bearing surface area composed of random printed designs adjacent the bottom portion on said bottom data processing pres sure arresting copy underlying the printed indicia adjacent the bottom .of the patients prescription copy and the ink bearing surface area composed of random printed designs adjacent the upper portion underlying only a portion of the printed indicia adjacent the upper portion of the patients prescription copy so that only certain parts of the details relating to the patient pressure written on the patients prescription copy will appear thereon and the prescription pressure written on the patients prescription copy will appear in the central portion thereof, said data processing pressure arresting copy being of a thickness sufficient to absorb the inscribing pressure made by the doctor when writing the prescription to prevent reproduction on the next underlying unit.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,506,015 5/1950 Doepke 28224 2,926,025 2/1960 Sornberger 28222 2,976,062 3/ 1961 Brechner 28229.2 3,022,094 2/1962 Kehoe 28222 3,048,426 7/1962 Rodriguez et a1. 28223 3,055,681 9/ 1962 Forsyth et a] 28222 3,058,758 10/1962 Govatsos 28223 FOREIGN PATENTS 451,605 8/ 1936 Great Britain.

JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner.

LAWRENCE CHARLES, Examiner. 

